Missouri Tigers coach Gary Pinkel has expressed his pride in Michael Sam after the defensive end publicly announced that he is gay.

Sam played a major role for Missouri last season and was named a first-team All-American and the Associated Press' SEC Defensive Player of the Year for his performances in 2013.

The 24-year-old will leave the team in order to enter the 2014 NFL Draft this May, and Pinkel is full of praise for his former player.

"We're really happy for Michael that he's made the decision to announce this, and we're proud of him and how he represents Mizzou," he told reporters.

"Michael is a great example of just how important it is to be respectful of others, he's taught a lot of people here first-hand that it doesn't matter what your background is, or your personal orientation, we're all on the same team and we all support each other."

If, as expected, Sam is chosen in the Draft, then he will become the first openly gay player in NFL history.